12/16/2024
The Department of Interior has opened the eighth application round for the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) grant program, and applications are now being accepted at Grants.gov. Transform your city’s communities and close the park equity gap with funding from the ORLP, which offers 50/50 matching grants to create new parks or revitalize existing parks in underserved urban neighborhoods.
How to Apply
All applications must run through your state, so start the application process with your State Lead agency. They will answer questions about your specific project and explain their process for selecting and submitting applications to NPS. They can also talk to you about the LWCF formula grant program and other possible state funding. Find your LWCF state official here and direct all your other general questions here.
8th Round Technical Assistance
Learn how to maximize your chances of success in the 8th application round. In our webinar recording, NPS staff walk you through applicant and project eligibility, explain the application and selection process, and share expert tips on writing a strong proposal.
Project Eligibility
ORLP projects must meet two eligibility criteria: your city/town must have a population of at least 25,000 based on the 2020 Census, and the project must be located within an underserved community. To see if your project meets the basic eligibility requirements:
- Search the Census Bureau’s Quick Facts website. Type the name of the city into the search bar and scroll down to see the line for “Population Census, April 1, 2020.” Federally recognized Tribes, Alaskan Native Communities, and Native Hawaiian organizations are eligible to apply for projects on their lands regardless of census numbers.
- At least one of the following information sets can indicate the proposing community’s underserved status:
- Communities identified by the Council on Environmental Quality’s Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool, or;
- Communities identified by the Environmental Protection Agency’s EJScreen tool, or;
- Communities can demonstrate need by submitting relevant documentation for evaluation where these other tools do not work (e.g., US Territories).
